North Wales Outdoor Charter...
Reconciling Conservation and
Recreation?
Chris Hooper
Who am I?!
✤
Outdoor Education Teacher at
The Conway Centre
✤
Visiting Lecturer at Bangor
University
✤
MA Countryside Management
Graduate
✤
Collaboration with Snowdonia
Active over North Wales Outdoor
Charter Group
✤
Outdoor Activity Participant!
Background?
✤
Snowdonia Active organised a
meeting at Plas Tan Y Bwlch in
early 2010.
✤
Increasing pressure from
environmental & access
issues.
✤
Recent disbanding of the
Sustainable Use of Snowdonia
group.
Current
Situation:
✤
WATO forum piloted to link
Wales’ 3 National Parks with
the aim of sharing good
practice across the outdoor
sector.
✤
Pembrokeshire Outdoor
Charter Group
✤
South Wales Outdoor Activity
Providers Group
✤
Snowdonia Active (North
Wales)
“Managing the impact of organised outdoor
activity groups in North West Wales; an
investigation into good practice.”
✤
‘Delphi’ methodology using an expert panel of stakeholders.
✤
Two rounds of questions with feedback to investigate issues raised.
✤
Anonymous to encourage honest and open opinion.
✤
Attempts to reach consensus opinion on the way forward.
✤
Based on 4 case study venues: Afon Ddu, Moelwynion, Penrhyn Mawr
& Lion Rock.
✤
What is considered to be good practice?
✤
Considered wide variety of solutions including, payment for access,
permit systems, parking charges, dissemination of information etc...
Opinions...
✤
Very strong agreement on the
positive benefits of introducing
people to a range of natural
environments using outdoor
activities.
✤
Majority stakeholder view that
organised group use would
increase in the future.
✤
A necessity to keep the negative
impact that groups have on the
environment in the wider context
of the debate on the sustainability
of the natural environment.
Threats?
✤
No single representative
body.
✤
Reliance on voluntary
approach to work.
✤
Increased use of venues.
✤
Size of geographical area to
be covered.
✤
Inadvertent promotion of
outdoor activity venues.
✤
Funding...
Discussions...
✤
Lots of practical suggestions to
improve sustainability.
✤
Improved opportunities for
education, both for providers &
participants.
✤
A desire to put something back.
✤
Sharing ideas and resources.
✤
Information to visiting groups.
✤
Highlighted other venues with
potential issues.
What is the
NWOCG?
✤
Representative proactive
membership body.
✤
Promote collective engagement
of the outdoor sector in North
Wales
✤
Environmental sustainability of
outdoor venues.
✤
Maintain and improve access to
outdoor venues.
✤
Provide workshops and
disseminate information on ‘good
practice’.
What it is not...
✤
A ‘policing’ organisation;
members sign up to the
outdoor charter and agree to its
content.
✤
Statutory, it is a voluntary
membership organisation...
Although it would be great to
get everyone onboard!
✤
Health and safety, there are
other more appropriate
organisations which already
fulfil this role.
Why?
It is our livelihood
Collective responsibility
Proactive vs. reactive
Conclusions?
✤
Formation of a North Wales
Outdoor Charter Group, a
missed opportunity if we don’t.
✤
Continued use of voluntary
guidelines.
✤
Emphasis on environmental
issues within NGB awards
structure.
✤
Environmental awareness
training for those delivering
outdoor activities (local
contexts).
✤
Place environmental awareness
within an inspection system?
How?
✤
✤
Phase 1: Engagement.
Phase 2: Organisational ‘form &
function’.
✤
Appointment of a part-time paid
coordinator.
✤
Sources of funding.
✤
Database of activity providers.
“You are the custodians of the home I am talking about. Please take good
care of it. Escort your charges through it in a way that will always ensure
its good repair. Show them how the home's furnishings are arranged. Help
them appreciate the decor. Introduce them to the home's other occupants.
Teach your charges how to have fun there without messing up the place.
Above all, model for them the peace of mind that comes with knowing that
when all else about us fails and disappoints and hurts, our home will be
there still, on those waters, in those woods, and in those mountains, to
take shelter and comfort in.”
Dustin 2003:18